Vaginal irrigator and urinal



(No Model.)

B. J. HOLGOMBE.

VAGINAL IRRIGATOR AND URI-NAL.

No. 249,937. Patented N0 22,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ELIZABETH J. HOLOOMBE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

VAGINAL IRRIGATOR AND URINAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,937, dated November 22, 1881,

Application filed April .21, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELIZABETH J. HoL- COMBE, residing at the city of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improved Vaginal Irrigator and Urinal, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective of the same ready for use as an irrigator; Fig. 2, a top plan view; Fig.3, a longitudinal section on the line at 'l Fig. 4, a cross-section at about the line between the letters o w.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus whereby liquids can be injected into the vaginal canal in large quantities,in a steady flow, and be thence discharged and carried away without removing the instrument or any part of it, or changing its position in any manner whatever while the patient is in a recumbent position, and which can also be used as a urinal, either in an erect or recumbent position and it consists, first, in closing the lower end of the body to create the drainage cup or receiver and providing it with an outlet opening and pipe; second, of the employment, in a vaginal irrigator and urinal, of a perineal stem mounted upon and projecting down from the posterior side of the body; third, in the construction of the sides proper of the body with a longitudinal depression or concavity near the lower end of the pear-shaped openin g,in combination with the perineal stem, for the purposes specified; fourth, of a vaginal irrigator and urinal, consisting of an elongated body having a general boat-like shape, its sides being contracted and closed at thelowerextremity,formingaconical drainage cup or receiver, flattened somewhat laterally, and terminating near the apex in a tubular outlet, and having an open and expanded portion, inclosing a cavity continuous with the basin, and terminating in a border bounding a pear'shaped opening, with a perineal stem superimposed upon the posterior side below the pear-shaped opening, projecting downward, said body being provided with an inlet-pipe connected to a syringe.

The term posterior is applied to that part of the body or that side of itwhich fits against the person directly.

It is constructed as follows: 'A is the elon- (No model.)

gated body, constructed substantially elliptical or ovoid in cross-section, and having a general boat-shaped outline lengthwise, its sides being contracted and closed at the lower extremity to form a conical drainage cup or receiver, b, flattened somewhat laterally, and terminating near its apex in a tubular outlet, a, and having an open and expanded portion inclosing a cavity with that of the receiver 1), and terminating in a border, d, bounding an elongated pear-shaped opening, B, in the posterior side of the body'A, and also having a superimposed perinealstem,e,extendingdownward, projecting from the posterior side below the opening B. The stem e is usually made solid, and is of substantially an oval cross-section and slightly tapered. The border dis quite shallow at the upper end of the opening B, but as it extends downward it gradually rises or increases in height until it becomes blended or lost in the base of the stem 6 at or near the point m. A longitudinal depression or concavity, extending back under the stem 6 and along its base, is made in both sides of the body A, and at the points 17 w is substantially of the form shown in Fig. 4. The lower part of the body A, below the lower end of the ope'ningB, contracted and closed as shown in the drawings, constitutes the drainage cup or receiver b, in the bottom or apex of which is the outlet-hole and external pipe-coupling, a. In the upper part of the body, at about the point shown in the drawings, is the inlet-hole and double coupling (internal and external) 0. A rubber tube, h, connected to an ordinary bulb or fountain syringe, g, is coupled onto the external end of the coupling at c, and an ordinary pipe-nozzle, f, is coupled onto the internal end of the coupling at 0. An outlet or discharge pipe, 2', is coupled onto the coupling at a. Flexible rubber tubing is commonly used for the tubes and discharge-pipe.

It is operated as follows: The patient lying upon her back, with the knees flexed, takes hold of the body A at the upper end with the thumb and fingers of one hand, the opening B being toward the person, inserts the nozzle f into the vagina, passes the stem 0 down between the buttocks close to the perinzeum, separates the labia at their lower commissure, and presses that part of the border near m between them, so that they overlap it, thus inclosing the vaginal and urethral orifices. She now holds the body A pressed firmly but gently against the perinfeum in the position described, and, pressing the bulb of the syringe g with the free hand, (the suction-tube of the syringe having been dropped into the liquid to be injected,) the liquid is injected into the vagina, from which it escapes into the drainage-cup b, from which it flows through the outlet a and tube 2' into the vessel on the floor to receive it. The combined action of the perineal stein, pressed close against the perinaeum below the vaginal outlet, and of the lower portion of the labia, overlapping the border d, prevent any leakage of the liquid outside of the body upon the person or soiling or wetting the bedding or clothing. In this manner a steady flow of liquid into the vagina can be continued as long as desired without removing or changing the position of the body A in any respect whatever. When a fountain-syringe is used, the simple opening of the stop-valve causes the liquid to flow into the vagina. The stem e is of such length and size as to adapt itself to the perinteum between the buttocks, and by compressing the thighs upon it the lower part of the body A is held more firmly in place.

My apparatus can be used as a urinal forfemales by simply placing itin the position above described, without using the nozzle f or syringe g. It can also be used as a urinal for males.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vaginal irrigator, the drainage-receiver I), created by the contraction and closing of the sides of the body laterally, and terminating near the apex in a tubular outlet, a, when constructed substantially as described.

2. In a vaginal irrigator, the perineal stem 6, when constructed and operating to hold the lower part of the body in place, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the opening B, discharge-receiver b, and perineal stem 0, when constructed and operating. together, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. A vaginal irrigator and urinal, consisting of the body A, opening B, bounded by the border d, discharge-receiver b, with outlet at, and outlet-tube connected thereto, and perineal stem 6, in combination with a syringe, g, and nozzle f, connected thereto, when constructed and operating together, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of April, 1881.

ELIZABETH J. HOLOOMBE.

Witnesses:

(l. W. SMITH, J. GILBERT J US'lIN. 

